A showdown is brewing in Class 4A with Clarksdale 3-1 hosting a much improved Hernando team which finds the Tigers at 3-1 as well.

The Tigers of Hernando will make the trip to Clarksdale this Friday night, with the winner moving themselves as one of the teams to beat in conference competition. Oxford and Lafayette County also plans on having something to say about the district championship.

Ole Miss Commitment Bradley Sowell is very excited about his team's chances this Friday night and is feeling pretty good about how his senior season is going.

"We know that we are going to be the underdog," Sowell said Monday. "We plan on going up there and taking it to them. I expect it to be a very physical game and we plan on doing our best against them this week."

Sowell committed to the Rebels in May and has never wavered from his pledge. He feels that the early commitment has taken a lot of pressure off of him for his senior season.

"This has been a really good year for me so far," Sowell said. "I'm playing the best I have ever played. Having my decision out of the way has helped me focus on getting better every day and concentrating on helping make Hernando a better team."

The Tigers were 1-2-1 at this point last year and didn't have a winning season last fall.

"Our goal is to win the conference and make a run in the state playoffs," Sowell said. "We are expecting a big battle this Friday night."

One thing that Sowell has been aware of is how is Rebels are playing.

"They are a very young team," Sowell said. "They will get better; I'm not discouraged about it. I believe in Ole Miss and I believe in Coach (Ed) Orgeron."

Sowell will be at the Ole Miss game this Saturday when the Rebels play host to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

"I'm every home ballgame," Sowell said. "I will be there this week and I hope for another home victory for Ole Miss."

Clarksdale's only loss of the season was a 19-13 loss at the hands of South Panola in the season opener. Hernando's only loss was to Eupora 22-19.

Sowell, a 6-foot-8, 335-pound offensive tackle is expected to give the Rebels some added depth next year.

"The way I look at it I could go to a place where they are already winning and wait and be a part of it," Sowell said. "Or I could be part of the reason that the program becomes a winner. Ole Miss is building something special, and I'm very glad I'm going to be a part of that."